The Secret Tank Gambit
"See you."
"While I'm gone, you're the senior, so keep the others in line. It's not like I'm heading out on a multi-day trip—I'll be back by dawn or morning at the latest, so there shouldn't be any problems."
"I'll keep everything tightly under control without a hitch."
"Good. A little more effort and you'll hit graduation level, so keep pushing."
The woman didn't know how to react to the boss's praise. Her smile was so radiant that every assistant who had come up to the first floor to see Nobak off could see it.
Nobak set off toward the yacht party, while the assistants headed back downstairs, leaving only the on-duty staff behind.
Allen and Vito gathered in a dim corridor and spoke quietly.
"Did you see that? That loathsome bastard."
Ever since learning the truth, Vito no longer called Nobak "boss." He spat curses constantly, as if venting all his pent-up rage.
And contrary to his initial sharp impression, Vito talked a lot more than expected. Or maybe it was just his way of easing the anxiety.
"If I hadn't known, I'd have ended up as fodder for those eyes of his. That woman earlier? She owes us her life—we saved her from being the next target. So, the plan?"
"Let's wait a bit. Right before Nobak boards the yacht, when he's transferring by boat—that's the sweet spot. Any trouble then, and he'll come back alone."
"His collaborators are all vultures circling for a chance anyway, so he'll want to handle it himself. Plus, as a researcher, he won't want to show off his life's work to anyone else."
"Could be."
"Look at my hands. They're shaking like leaves. You?"
To Vito's question, Allen glanced down at his own palms. The pale skin and long fingers showed no tremor whatsoever.
"You're ice-cold. Keeping your cool even now. You sure you're not a golem pretending to be human?"
"Who knows."
Everything had its pros and cons. Calmness was a virtue for a magitech engineer, but since Allen had gained it through his parents' deaths, it felt more like a scar to him.
Feeling his heartbeat quicken beyond its usual pace, he closed his eyes. First, he needed to settle this. A hot head was fine for a fight, but useless for quick problem-solving.
Counting the seconds inwardly to regain his composure, Allen opened his eyes once the excitement had ebbed.
"Let's get started."
"Whew. I'm shaking."
By now, Nobak should be boarding the boat or en route, and if a commotion arose, he'd return at the signal. They had to wrap everything up before then.
Allen moved toward the engine room not by running, but with long, deliberate strides.
"We only get one shot."
"I know."
Allen infused mana into the iron plate engraved with [Flame] and scattered it in front of the engine room door. Vito triggered the nearby fire alarm.
Wooo-ooo-ooo!
The siren filled the basement, red lights flashing everywhere. The once-peaceful sublevel one erupted into chaos.
"Where is it? Where's the fire? Find it quick!"
The assistants and workers moved as per their training, grabbing extinguishers and rushing to their assigned zones.
Shadows stretched long down the corridor leading to the engine room, frantic footsteps growing louder.
But the assistants and workers who came rushing halted abruptly at the sight of the flames.
Normally, they'd charge in to put it out, but this was right in front of the engine room. Flames licked out from the [Flame]-engraved iron plate Allen had tossed.
The first assistant to arrive spun on his heels and bolted. Flames spilling out the door meant one thing.
"Fire in the engine room! Everyone, scatter!"
"I've got an extinguisher—shouldn't we spray it?"
"Ditch it! If that blows, the whole clinic goes up!"
The engine room was packed with mana generators, mana batteries, mana stones—prime explosion fodder. It was like a fire in a powder keg.
The secret lab on sublevel four might survive, but everything above couldn't withstand that blast.
Thanks to the loudmouth assistant, the warning spread even through the panic. Naturally, everyone's hearts sank.
"The engine room?"
"Get out—move it! Can't you open the door? Beat it!"
It was total pandemonium, a scene from hell. Panic devoured even those clinging to reason. Fear ballooned easily and devoured cool heads just as fast.
"Lucky the first guy who ran was such a coward. If he'd checked properly, we'd have had to knock him out."
"Nobak killing off his experienced assistants to keep the clinic under easy control ended up helping us."
Since the first arrival wasn't the meticulous or calm type, Allen and Vito didn't have to intervene themselves.
The two leaped over the dying flames into the engine room. The security system let them pass with their access clearance.
They shut off all switches and loaded a pre-stacked cart with mana stones and mana batteries.
Next stop: Nobak's private elevator. Allen halted the cart in front and pulled out his pry bar.
"Let's go."
"This'll work, right?"
"Failure isn't an option. Even a slight slip-up means we won't die easy. As you know, there are plenty of ways to keep someone alive while ignoring their dignity."
"Yeah. Real comforting."
"Then I'll open it."
Allen jammed the pry bar into the door seam and wrenched wildly. Even without brute force, the door groaned and twisted, finally revealing the dark interior.
"Weak arms, but damn good technique."
"Hurry and set it up. The engine room won't stay down long."
"I'm on it."
Vito anchored a pulley to the wall and dropped the rope down. They slid down like rappelling on a fixed line.
Allen climbed atop the elevator car and pried open the ceiling hatch, dropping inside. Vito followed, shining light from his artificial eye to illuminate the space for Allen.
"You're quick when it comes to breaking or fixing stuff. Guess you need the dexterity for handling rune letters too."
"Focus. Opening it."
The pry bar slammed into the elevator door again. It screeched open. Spotting a glint beyond the gap, Allen kicked Vito aside.
"Get down!"
Bang-bang-bang!
Allen's shout drowned in the gunfire. In an instant, the elevator car shredded like wet paper.
A surveillance turret hung upside-down from the ceiling, its barrel cooling from the heat.
Vito, plastered to the wall like a cicada, peeked down the corridor.
"Separate external power, huh? I'll handle that one."
Vito placed both hands on his headgear-style EBI. Mana flowed through the circuits, a faint light flickering inside.
Cre-ee-eak!
A horrific metallic twist echoed from above. The turret's barrel, aimed at the elevator, now bent toward the ceiling.
"Tough bastard. That should stop it from shooting. There's another turret—how do we get that one? Need time to recharge telekinesis."
"I'll take care of it."
Allen donned his contact lenses. Closing his eyes flipped his vision instantly.
His rat-shaped scout golem, which had endured so far, waited in the vent for orders. It emerged, clung upside-down to the ceiling, and sidled up to the turret, avoiding the barrel.
Pop!
No need to check. Allen ignored the disabled turret—its cable severed—and dashed into the secret lab.
"That's all the extra security? Easier than I thought."
"I handled the rest with the golem. Prepped it like a fuse—just blew in some mana, and done."
Reaching the center, Allen ripped out the thick bundle of mana cables attached to the tank.
"Whoa, that looks heavy as... nah, it's fine."
Vito rushed over and braced the tank's bottom with both hands, flashing an awkward grin.
"Not water—liquefied mana. No wonder it shimmered a bit."
Liquefied mana was denser than ambient mana. Used for high-output needs or storing valuables like this.
Its price tag was astronomical, of course.
"He really babies this thing. Like you said, we can make a deal with it."
"Fingers crossed it works. Showing him the tank should at least start the negotiation."
Allen secured the tank with rope and winched it up via pulley. Back at the cart's level, they hauled it all the way to the clinic rooftop.
In the open lot surrounding the clinic, the assistants were in heated debate—more like one woman chewing out another. The ponytail woman snarled at the first assistant who'd yelled about the fire.
"Engine room's on fire, huh? Then why's it still standing?"
"You go check it! No way in hell I'm doing it!"
The nearby assistants nodded. Normally they'd heed the senior woman's words per Nobak's orders, but with lives on the line, no one stepped up.
"You cowards. When the boss gets back, you're all..."
"Look! It's Allen and Vito!"
Everyone's gaze snapped to the rooftop at the shout. Wrapping something odd in the tank up there was impossible to miss.
"What the hell are they doing? What's that cylinder?"
"No tank like that in the second-floor lab. Only place for something like that is the boss's secret research room?"
"What the fuck is this?!"
The murmurs died under one bellow. As the clinic's owner appeared, the clustered assistants and workers parted, forming a path.
Allen finished his work and watched. As expected, Nobak was alone.
He wouldn't want to show weakness to local bigwigs or cartel types.
They might play nice now, but expose a vulnerability, and anyone could bite.
Besides, it was a gathering of egos. No way he'd risk becoming the laughingstock.
People always get curious when everyone's staring somewhere. Nobak's head naturally tilted upward.
"Allen, Vito? What the..."
The tank between them. The sudden blare of the alarm signal.
Nobak grasped it instantly. Veins bulged hideously across his twisted face.
Vito averted his eyes from the menace, but Allen met his gaze steadily, as always—no downcast eyes.
"Everyone, out of the lot."
Nobak cleared his underlings away. The tank was the secret of secrets—not for mere pawns.
Once they retreated, Nobak ground his teeth.
"The collar wasn't enough? I was gonna remove it in due time, but you betray me like this?"
"..."
Allen tapped the tank silently. Nobak cut to the chase.
"What do you want?"
"Freedom."
"Getting cocky, huh? You slimy rat!"
"Depends on the person. So, what's your move?"
"Kneel and beg forgiveness right now..."
"Skip the clichés. Who'd buy that? Not even you believe it."
Nobak's fists trembled. He drew a key from his waist spatial pouch. Before he could act, Allen pointed at the tank.
"Stop. Take a good look. See anything?"
Nobak's artificial eyes zoomed in, scanning the tank's surface.
The [Flame]-engraved iron plate, wrapped with mana stones and batteries to boost the blaze.
"You know how much work I poured into that vessel? That firepower won't even scratch it—I'll blow your head off!"
"Then do it."
Allen pressed his head right against the tank, blatantly. His usual blank expression was a huge asset here—no muscle twitch to betray bluff or resolve.
"Goddamn it."
Nobak's beard quivered. Humiliation at toys outsmarting him fueled his rage, but he couldn't risk decades of research.
In the end, he tossed the key to the ground. To Allen, his life was paramount; to Nobak, the tank's contents were his life.